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USP proposes new, revised monographs for Food Chemicals Codex inclusion
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Wednesday, 20 January, 2016, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Rockville, Md.
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fiogf49gjkf0d The US Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) is proposing new monographs to be included in its Food Chemicals Codex (FCC), First Supplement to the Tenth Edition. Among them are new and revised monographs focussing on colour and spice additives that are vulnerable to adulteration and contamination and functional ingredients used in a variety of food formulations including popular sports nutritional supplements.
“The ingredients proposed for the FCC are reflective of industry stakeholder needs in meeting consumers’ expectations for particular food ingredients. We have seen a demand for quality standards for spice extracts used as colour and flavour additives for foods as well as functional ingredients, as manufacturers look to quality as a way of distinguishing their products on the market,” said Jaap Venema, executive VP and chief science officer, USP.
Turmeric oleoresin is widely used as a colouring and flavouring agent. USP seeks comments on this proposed monograph, particularly as to how the FCC monograph should approach the issue of potential adulteration or contamination of turmeric oleoresin with non-declared colours such as Sudan dyes, including appropriate methods and specifications.
Another monograph going through a major revision for the first supplement of FCC 10 is Anise Oil. It is used as a flavouring agent in various food preparations. The proposed revision provides test limits for the possibility of anise oil adulteration with Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum), which is highly toxic. Also proposed is a labelling requirement indicating the botanical origin of the oil as either Pimpinella anisum (native of the Mediterranean and Southwest Asia regions) or Illicium verum (Chinese star anise).
Two functional ingredients are also part of the proposed standards in the first supplement of FCC 10. Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) is a popular functional food ingredient used for its purported calming, anti-anxiety effects.
Widely used as a “sports” nutritional supplement under claims of better recovery from physical exertion, L-Carnitine L-Tartrate is another functional ingredient monograph proposed for inclusion in the first supplement of FCC 10. The ingredient is GRAS for use at defined levels in specific food items such as fruit juices, fruit-flavoured drinks, protein bars, meal replacements, breakfast bars and carbonated soft drinks. USP requests comments on how to limit potential contamination with D-carnitine, an impurity that lacks the biochemical function of L-carnitine and is reported to be antagonistic to L-carnitine.
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